Heat exchanger and method of making same

Abstract

A heat exchanger comprising a conduit formed by two elongated channel forming sheets bound and sealed together along facing flat edges by encapsulating plastic extending around the edges of the sheets and extending through matching openings in the flat sheet edges. The encapsulation is preferably carried out as part of the reaction injection molding of a container, with the heat exchanger encapsulated in a wall of the container.

We claim: 
     
       1. A heat exchanger comprising: a first sheet member of elongated peripheral configuration having flat edge portions,   a second member of heat transmitting sheet material having substantially the same elongated peripheral configuration as said first member, said second member having an elongated concavity forming a channel and having flat portions extending along both sides and ends of said channel,   said flat portions of said second member being in face to face contact around the periphery of said channel with said flat edge portions of said first member, said channel facing toward said first member and forming a conduit with said first member,   said portions of both said members having aligned, spaced openings, and   plastic material encapsulating said facing edge portions and extending through said openings to bind and seal said members together.   
     
     
       2. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein both said members are of sheet metal. 
     
     
       3. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: inlet and outlet fittings extending through respective end portions of said first member into said channel.   
     
     
       4. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 3, further comprising: said encapsulating material comprising a wall portion of a container, a surface of the channel forming portion of said second member being exposed to the interior of said container.   
     
     
       5. A conduit comprising: first and second members having an elongated concavity forming a channel and having flat portions extending along both sides and ends of said channel,   said flat portions of said members being in face to face contact around the periphery of said channel, said channels facing each other,   said edge portions of both said members having aligned, spaced openings, and   plastic material encapsulating said facing edge portions and extending through said openings to bind and seal said members together.   
     
     
       6. A method of forming a conduit, such as in a heat exchanger, the method comprising: placing in face to face contact flat peripheral edge portions of two sheet members which form a channel and which have aligned openings spaced along the edge portions of both members, and   encapsulating said edge portions with a plastic material which extends around the edge portions and through said openings to bind and seal said members together.   
     
     
       7. The method set forth in claim 6, further comprising: inserting tubular inlet and outlet elements into respective spaced apart portions of one of said members before encapsulation so that said elements are encapsulated with said members.   
     
     
       8. The method set forth in claim 6, further comprising: performing said encapsulation in forming a wall of a container, wit the encapsulating material forming part of a wall of the container.   
     
     
       9. The method set forth in claim 8, further comprising: said encapsulation being carried out by reaction injection molding process.